Country focus
WHO provides technical assistance and training to countries in the development and implementation of national mental health policy, legislation and in mental health service organization and planning.
Using the WHO Mental Health Policy and Service Guidance Package and the WHO Resource Book on Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation, and drawing on the pool of experts available within the WHO Faculty of Consultants, technical assistance is provided to assist countries to address priority mental health areas that they have identified. While the specific actions to be taken will differ according to the areas of mental health to be reformed and strengthened, common elements will include:
- consultation with key stakeholders,
- situational analysis and needs assessment,
- identification and implementation of strategies, and
- evaluation based on the selection of key indicators.
WHO technical assistance and training in all of these areas requires a clear level of commitment on behalf of countries:
- to use WHO’s framework in the area of mental health policy, services and legislation,
- to use WHO trained faculty, and
- to document the process of the mental health reform, from its development to its implementation.
It needs to be emphasized that WHO's technical assistance in these areas does not set out to impose a specific policy, service plan or legislation. Countries need to consult with their own populations regarding national priorities for mental health. WHO's aim is to provide a technical framework and to recommend certain principles regarding mental health, that are upheld by countries through their membership of the UN and through treaties which they have signed. These include respect for human rights; the use of evidence-based mental health care including community-based mental health services; and principles of equity, effectiveness, efficiency, accessibility and good quality care.
Needs assessment
Situational analysis
Activity Reports
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Working with countries: mental health policy and service development projects
pdf, 4.29Mb
To facilitate downloading the document has been split into individual chapters here below: -
Preface Introduction and Table of Contents
pdf, 988kb -
China
pdf, 692kb -
Mozambique
pdf, 1.19Mb -
Sri Lanka
pdf, 1.09Mb -
Working with countries Appendix and References
pdf, 210kb